Man Charged in Kidnapping That Ended in Ramona Carjacking

Kidnapping, robbery and other charges were filed in San Diego against a man accused of abducting a batting coach and his teenage student last week at Hickman Field in Kearny Mesa, then committing a carjacking to make his getaway, a prosecutor said Wednesday.

Ira Stringer, 45, was arrested in Orange County Saturday following a high-speed chase. He was charged in that county with robbery, kidnapping and evading police and will be prosecuted there before facing charges in San Diego, said Deputy District Attorney Jim Koerber.

Stringer was taken into custody in the city of Orange on Saturday after fleeing from a Circle K gas station he allegedly robbed, according to San Diego police.

The defendant allegedly admitted to the double kidnapping in Kearny Mesa when he was interviewed by SDPD detectives, and also allegedly admitted to robbing a mini-market in Lemon Grove before making his way to Orange County.

The coach and teenage boy were kidnapped the morning of Dec. 23 from the Hickman Field ballpark at 5100 Hickman Field Drive. Stringer allegedly approached them and asked for a cigarette. When the coach and teen declined, Stringer allegedly threatened them with a silver revolver and ordered them both into the coach’s car.

Stringer allegedly ordered the coach to drive them to Ramona, with the teen in the passenger seat and Stringer in the back seat with his gun pointed at the victims.

Stringer allegedly took the coach’s cell phone and pretended to have a conversation with another person who appeared to be in on the heist, according to San Diego police.

The coach allegedly tried to take the gun from Stringer and a fight ensued, causing the coach to lose control of the car and crash into another vehicle near San Vincente and Warnock roads in Ramona. The gun went off twice during the struggle, striking the roof of the car, according to the SDPD.

Immediately after the crash, the teen got out of the car and ran to a passing motorist to ask for help. The good Samaritan took the boy to the Ramona sheriff’s station.

The victims told deputies that after the crash, the kidnapping suspect carjacked an elderly woman who tried to help them.

Stringer is scheduled to be in court Jan. 11 for a preliminary hearing in Orange County.

—City News Service

Man Charged in Kidnapping That Ended in Ramona Carjacking was last modified: December 30th, 2015 by Debbie L. Sklar

>> Subscribe to Times of San Diego’s free daily email newsletter! Click here